Responsibility of goods owners and Customs Branch is clearly defined in this Circular. Goods owners shall make customs procedures under current regulations and customs clearance of goods under guidance of this Circular to export/import goods subject to quarantine; ensure status quo of goods for consignment transported to location out side customs control area to implement quarantine requirements; submit quarantine certificates to customs authorities to complete customs clearance of goods timely as regulated; implement disposing decision of authorized agency for violations of laws and procedures related to quarantine and customs clearance procedures.

For Customs Branch: beside implementation of customs procedures under current regulations and clearance of export/import goods subject to quarantine under guidance in this Circular, the Customs Branch track records of consigment delivered to owners to preserve for quarantine result. Before 05 days, deadline day for submission of quarantine certificates, Customs Branch send written notice to goods owners to complete clearance of goods; dispose of violations of regulations on quarantine certificate submitted; dispose of goods not meet quarantine requirements and coordinate with authorities in providing information, customs documents, and participate in advisory councils, handling and others as requested, guiding goods owners to register for quarantine in case of goods owners do not know if their goods are subject to quarantine when declare customs; coordinate with quarantine agencies to inspect goods for consignment with both customs inspection and quarantine to avoid submitting goods to authorized agencies for several times.

This Circular takes effect from 15/02/2012 and replaces guidance on the procedures for customs clearance for goods subject to quarantine stipulated in Joint Circular No.17/2003/TTLT/BTC-BNN-BTS dated 14/03/2003 of the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ministry of Fisheries (now merged with Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development).